Normandy is a country located south of the mainland. Which housed four kingdoms. Each with their own uniqueness.

Emsas which could be found on the southwest corner of the mainland. This kingdom is ruled by two sisters.

"Winter is upon us in Normandy. We need to hurry with our produce before the first snowfall."

"Yes Princess Salaria. I think that we can finish harvesting them by Festival of Miracles. We have more than enough of produce that'll last us through the winter. Including the trades from the North. They'll be plenty for this year. Even when we split the produce up among our other villages."

"Thank you farmer Brown for the fairly detailed evaluation of the produce. That's all I have for you today. Please do take care, and prepare well for the Festival of Miracles."

"Seriously, it's already upon us?"

"What is wrong my sister? You do not enjoy the Festival of Miracles?"

There was a sigh that came from Salaria's sister.

"No I do not. There are never any miracles that happen on the Festival of Miracles. It's just stupid."

"Queen Zamaria I do not like your tone."

"Well, you don't have to." Zamaria replied with a sour taste. "You always sound like mother." Zamaria snorted back.

"Well, it wasn't like I wanted to be responsible." Salaria answered, and when she replied she arched her brows. Zamaria noticed that her cheeks were forming a bit of redness to them.

Zamaria relaxed her stance, and sat down on her throne. She huffed a bit before finally realizing how stubborn she was getting.

"You should be thankful Zamaria. You should remember all of the conversations that you and I have had about that crown. We all know that you weren't ready for it. Though, I didn't doubt you for a second. Even when everyone else in the kingdom of Emsas did. I did not." Salaria sighed, she had possibly given this lecture over a hundred times.

"I was thankful." Zamaria said with a taste of bitterness that came from her words. Salaria stepped back and gave a look of what seemed to be confusion that was painted across her face.

"Why not now? This Festival of Miracles was supposed to be something different this year. I knew that you were excited for it at one point this year." Salaria replied.

"I was, until I remembered the death of my boyfriend. The man that I was going to marry before mother ruined everything for me."

FLASH BACK

"Oh Marcus! We could have it all."

"Have all of what Zamaria?"

"Everything." Zamaria replied as she leaned in to give Marcus a kiss.

"But I already have everything I need." Marcus replied.

"We can just run away..."

"And go where?" Marcus answered the kiss and pressed his lips against the Princess'.

"Anywhere outside of Emsas. We can take your horses and win races. Earn money- or I can make money. I've been learning."

"Have you told your mother yet?" Marcus asked. Zamaria shook her head "no."

"I've been waiting for the right moment. She's been too demanding as a Queen and as a mother that of which got me thinking: 'why should I bother?' huh?"

"You know we could live with the Elves outside of Normanway." Marcus said with another slow and moving kiss.

Though, the doors burst open without warning.

"Zamaria! What have I told you about seeing the stable boy?" The Queen asked with a stern gaze.

"Mother- what are you doing here?!" Zamaria cried out.

"Madam Emsas?" Marcus bowed down and kneeled before the Queen.

However, the Queen did not seem happy at all. She furrowed her brows, and waved her hand upwards. Marcus's body Rose from the ground and he was floating a foot off it. His throat was collapsing and was getting tighter by the second. He was trying to speak, but words won't come out, and all his words sounded like gargled spit.

His body fell and crumbled to dust. Zamaria stood frozen with fear and distraught over the death of her boyfriend. Her eyes glowed red with disgust, green with envy. That was the day when she knew that she'll never be in love once more.

END FLASH BACK

"Yes you've told me the story many times. I would've been there for you if I was older. Though, I was only a babe, I couldn't have done anything to help you. Zamaria I am truly sorry about Marcus. I really am, but you have to step out of this obsession that you have about ruling all of Normanway." Salaria suggested with a puff of air as she stomped her boot in the floor.

"It's not going to work Salaria. I already have a mind set for ruling the whole country. I know what I have to do. Please stop trying to talk me out of it."

"Zamaria I'm trying to explain that war is never the answer."

"It is if you want power."

"There are other ways to earn power here in Normanway. We do have a rank system you know!" Salaria stopped. She took a few breaths, her redness that painted her cheeks was going down.

"I'll stop talking so that we could have breakfast." Salaria said with a sly smile, and hoped that she hasn't pushed things too far. However, Zamaria didn't want to listen to her sister anymore. Even if it was the Festival of Miracles that Zamaria once loved as a kid; it wasn't as fun as it was now.

Zamaria took a deep breath, and came to her own conclusion that they should stop fighting as well. Zamaria knew not to engage any further, as it was pointless to continue.

"Yes sister we can all have breakfast. I have something to say at the table." She forced a sigh out and headed across the throne room towards the doors. They swung open and Salaria stood up and followed her sister. They were both quiet as they headed downstairs to dining hall.

Salaria headed towards the Harbinger Barracks where Commander Rogers was positioned. He was organizing the parade, and Salaria decided that she could see how the rest of the city was working with preparations: they were setting up tents, stalls, and booths for games and other things like; food and supplies. Everyone was talking about the Festival of Miracles. That was all what everyone was talking about.

The princess passed a few local shops that were closed down for the day.

Knock. Knock. Knock. Salaria knocked on the door to the barracks a few times before a familiar voice responded.

"Coming!" It was low and welcoming, the front door was pushed open and Salaria backed up as the aging wooden door opened, and a brown haired man with sapphire blue eyes popped out from behind the door.

"Oh princess!" The man bowed his head and topped his fedora. He wasn't wearing his uniform which Salaria noticed. Though, not many guards are now when they're getting preparations finished. "Come in, come in. Please."

"Commander Rogers, it is nice to see you... and oddly enough, out of your uniform." Salaria answered and shifted from the cool crisp wind that brushed through the streets. Salaria shivered as she stepped inside.

"Oh it's wonderful that you have the furnace running. I wouldn't know how to survive without it." Salaria commented as she took off her jacket and handed it to the commander to hang up.

"Yes it is quite ingenious." He stopped in his tracks. "Oh forgot my manners. Would you like some tea princess Salaria?" Rogers asked kindly.

"Um... sure that would be great and thoughtful commander." The princess replied with a hearty smile and sat down behind the commander's desk. "When you come back, I'd like to talk to you about the parade."

"Yes my princess." The commander answered and left Salaria to wait as she sat in the office.

"Sorry about the wait my princess." The commander apologized as he stepped through into his office carrying a tea cup in. He was careful when he was holding the cup.

"No apologies needed. Here I'll take that from you. You did take two lumps of sugar right?"

"Just how you like it. I stirred it too."

"Ha ha funny. Also thank you."

"Anytime, so what about the festival would you like to talk about?"

"Well," she began, but she took a sip of tea and lost her train of thought. "Everyone's ready for the parade? We'll be doing that first you know that right? Then we'll have time with activities and fun. At night, the Skipping Beans will perform and The Magnificent Boomba will be performing too." Salaria said with fireworks. "To top the first night off we'll have fireworks."

"That sounds wonderful. Said Rogers with a smile, he flipped open a file that he's been studying for quite some time. The file was collecting dust already.

"What case is this?" Salaria asked curiously as she placed her teacup on the desk to look at the file.

"Menace the Bandit?" Salaria took a few moments to process what she was looking at. There was a drawing of a man with a beard and long hair that dropped past his shoulders. He had a smirk on his face: perhaps it was the last given details of the man before he left the kingdom of Emsas.

"Yes. He's a part of a large Guild; The Silverstones." Rogers said. His brows furrowed as he picked up the image of Menace. "He's a devious little fellow. For a Gnome like him. He can deal a lot of damage, and is threatening to ruin our most beloved Festival of Miracles."

"Oh?" Salaria inched closer and observed the file more closely. "This Gnome scares you? He doesn't have what it takes to ruin our kingdom, and this festival." Salaria said with a hearty laugh. "You may have a good sense of drama, but this is nothing that my guards can't handle. I'm sure that you'll defend against this Gnome and his dumb Silverstone friends." Salaria encouraged the commander.

"Ah, you're right. What am I worried about? You must see the Elf Wizard right?" Rogers asked and stood up.

"Yes, that's where I want to go."

"Oh- really? Are you aware that Zamaria requested an escort for the delivery of her staff?" Rogers switched topics, and it concerned Salaria.

"No? Should I be? Even without that escort we'll have plenty of men for the parade, what's the matter Rogers? Do you not feel comfortable with Zamaria ordering a few men out on a quest?" Salaria asked with her eyes glaring at the commander. He took a breath and calmed himself down before responding.

"Yes and no. I don't think she's fit to be Queen. I voted for you Salaria." Rogers shifted in his seat.

"Oh..." her head gazed downwards and she stepped back. She picked up her tea cup and finished the last sip of the tea. "I understand, can I just know where the Magnificent Boomba is at? Is he at his office?"

Rogers nodded his head. "Last I have checked he was." Salaria smiled and gave Rogers a kiss on the cheek. "You should take the week off for the festival." Salaria advised.

"I'd like to, but I need this time by myself. Can catch up on a lot of paperwork that I needed to finish." Salaria shrugged and ambled towards the door.

"Suit yourself. Though I'd appreciate it if you come and see me when you can." The Princess suggested before taking her coat and headed out the door. She peeked her head back inside and blew the commander a kiss before finally leaving the building as she made her way towards the tents that housed the Skipping Beans and their manager, the Magnificent Boomba.

Sorry that this took so long. I decided to write a different draft. Hopefully this one is better than the last, and if I have missed anything please do let me know! Thanksgiving was a little busy for me this year and more so than I'd like it to be. Though, hopefully this chapter made of 2k words have made up for that wait!